PNG police minister committed to restoring integrity to force

Papua New Guinea's Police Minister, Bire Kimisopa, says the government is committed to restoring the integrity of the police force within the next five years.

A government-funded review of the police, released yesterday, found serious failures, widespread corruption, lack of resources, poor morale, low salaries and facilities in disrepair.

Mr Kimisopa says the government takes full responsibility for the current state of the police.

"It was not surprising we found that morale was very low, and that the police were not performing to the expectations of the government and the people. It wasn't a problem of the community not responding or not assisting the police, it was basically the government's inability to really sit down and critically address the performance of the PNG police force."

Bire Kimisopa says he will now use the police review to table recommendations to parliament next year.